2013 City Council Candidate Questionnaire

Candidate Information Full Name: Carlton Berkley District Information District #:16 Are you an incumbent? No If yes, when were you first elected? Campaign Information From which parties are you seeking a nomination: Democratic and Working Families Full Name of Campaign Committee: People For Carlton Berkley Campaign HQ Address: P.O. Box 202 Bronx, New York 10470

Additional Candidate Information Endorsements List here the union, organizations (community, civic, media, issue groups), and elected officials that have endorsed you. Health And Hospital Police/ Mr. Mark Rosenthal(DC 37 local 983)/ National Latino Officers Association Brothers And Sister Who Care. Candidate Experience - Please explain any activities and/or experiences that demonstrate your commitment to the LGBT movement. I have attended several meetings with Mr. Bob Gangi (PROP) concerning the disparate treatment of people from the LGBT community. I have offered support in their fight for equality. - What experience do you have to demonstrate you are the best person to represent the district office you seek? I am a born and raised New Yorker. Ret. New York City Detective 2nd Grade. I have fought against the NYPD while a member of the service along with Senator Eric Adams as a member of the 100 Blacks In Law Enforcement Who Care and Anthony Miranda of the National Latino Officers Association when NYPD was wrong and continues today. I am a community activist and organizer. - Please detail any specific policy proposals you may have that will affect the LGBT community, that are not addressed in the next section. I will propose that condoms are not used as evidence in cases of mere possession.

Policy Positions Please answer the following questions in full, using your policy proposals and including specific examples of your previous actions on any given topic when possible.

Marriage Do you support full marriage equality for same-sex couples? Y (Y/N If no, please explain)

Will you work with New Yorks congressional delegation to support the repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act?Y (Y/N If no, please explain)

Adoption: Do you support full adoption rights for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender couples?Y (Y/N If no, please explain) Human Rights Do you support equal rights and treatment for people of transgender experience in the New York Shelter System, both adult shelters and youth shelters?Y (Y/N If no, please explain) HIV/AIDS

In 2011, Mayor Bloomberg proposed cutting 248 case managers and millions in rental assistance from the HIV/AIDS Services Administration (HASA). Individual legislators ended up using discretionary funds to fill the gap. Do you support increased funding for the HASA?Y (Y/N If no, please explain) Please explain your position on using discretionary funds to support agencies like HASA.
I fully support the use of discretionary funds to support agencies such as HASA in the event funding is cut off by the city, state or federal government.

What actions do you think the City Council should be taking to provide emergency housing for homeless people living with AIDS? Homeless people with AIDS should be treated with the same dignity as homeless people without AIDS and the City Council should be working just as hard for people with AIDS as they do for the people without AIDS. AIDS funding no longer corresponds to the demographics of which communities represent the greatest number of HIV cases in NYC. Would you support yearly statistics of both the geographic areas where HIV is most prevalent and as well as which populations in those neighborhoods are most effected, and then allocate yearly funding to services and communities based on these results? Yes I would support allocating yearly funding to service the people affected and the communities where they live.

Community Boards: Many Community Boards routinely oppose applications for liquor licenses in their areas, particularly if the proposed venue is tailored to appeal to the LGBT community. Please explain your position on the appropriate balance between support for nightlife, minority communities and respect for neighborhood concerns.

Please outline the criteria you would use in selecting Community Board members. I would choose a diverse group of representatives from the community which would reflect the community So that everyone could be represented. . The NYPD often targets bars, restaurants and clubs serving the LGBT community for increased scrutiny. They have used health code violations, allegations of drug use or sale, allegations of prostitution, allegations of serving minors, and a myriad of tools at their disposal. What changes would you implement to ensure LGBT institutions are treated equally by enforcement agencies? I would monitor NYPD enforcement activities concerning LGBT establishments along with others to ensure that the LGBT establishments are not specifically targeted. I will see that enforcement is equally enforced around the board when warranted. Do you support reforming Stop-and-Frisk? Please detail any specific changes to the program you believe are necessary. I am currently on the front lines fighting this injustice currently. If elected I would enact legislation returning the Stop And Frisk back to its originality.

NYPD

Do you oppose the use of condoms as evidence of prostitution in criminal cases? Please explain your support or opposition. I do oppose the use of condoms as evidence of prostitution in criminal cases. We should be supporting safe sex at every opportunity.

Runaway and Homeless Youth Will you support increasing the funding for both emergency shelter beds and transitional beds for homeless youth, a huge percentage of whom are from the LGBT community and will you pledge to support capital and expense funding for programs serving this population? Y (Y/N If no, please explain)

What will you do to expand access to services for runaway and homeless youth? I would seek the assistance of representatives of the LGBT community on this matter.

LGBT Services and Funding:

The LGBT community has no direct funding for the arts from the NEA or other funding sources because of institutional homophobia. Would your office help with funding for LGBT Arts? If yes, please explain how. Yes strategize with the LGBT community on how to raise funds for the Arts. I have no problem directing discretionary funds if possible or fundraisers. The LGBT community is in great need of senior housing for many of our aging population. Many seniors experience homophobia in senior facilities making them feel they must be closeted. Would you help with the funding of senior housing for the LGBT community in your district? Y (Y/N If no, please explain) If you are currently in office, have you made member item grants or supported LGBT funding requests? If seeking office for the first time, would you give strong consideration to LGBT social service organizations seeking funding from your office if elected? Y (Y/N If no, please explain) What actions will you take to help support the LGBT community center in your borough? If there is not an LGBT community center in your borough, what actions will you take to help develop one? I believe there is a center in my borough and I would frequently visit and support the center any way I could to make it better.

LGBT Services and Funding:

The LGBT community is in great need of senior housing for many of our aging population. Many seniors experience homophobia in senior facilities making them feel they must be closeted. Would you help with the funding of senior housing for the LGBT community? Y (Y/N If no, please explain) If you are currently in office, have you made member item grants or supported LGBT funding requests? If seeking office for the first time, would you give strong consideration to LGBT social service organizations seeking funding from your office if elected? Please explain your position. Yes. I believe that all organizations should be treated the same, however there are certain ones that need more attention/support and I would do my best to serve them all. What actions will you take to help support the LGBT community center in your borough? If there is not an LGBT community center in your borough, what actions will you take to help develop one?

Other: Please state concrete achievements for the LGBT community that you are responsible for in your current, or previous, elected office/s. I have never held office before.

Have you endorsed any LGBT candidates? Which ones? No, however that will change starting now. I have shown support.

If endorsed will you display the endorsement of the Stonewall Democratic Club of NYC in your literature whenever you list other endorsements and will you display the endorsement on your website? Yes. Will you hire openly LGBT staff and/or designate a liaison to our communities if elected? (Y/N If no, please explain)Yes.